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c. M. VAN HEUSEN.

CHIME ATTACHMENT FOR TELEPHONE SIGNAL BOXES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1918.

1,307,466. Patented June 24, 1919'.

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CHIME ATTACHMENT FOR TELEPHONE SIGNAL BOXLS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 191B- 1 07,466, Patented June 24,1919.

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iNL mRRrs PEYEPS co PHOIO 11:10., WASHINGTON n c.

CHARLES MANNING VAN Hansen, or ALBANY, NEW YORK.

CHIME ATTACHMENT FOB. TELEPHONE SIGNAL-BOXES.

Application filed May 27, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CI-rARLEs M. VAN HEUSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chime Attachments for Telephone Signal-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is directed to the provision of an attachment for the signal boxes of telephone call bell systems, the attachment being adapted to be substituted for the usual hammer and gongs of such signal boxes, so as to produce a vibrating sound of pleasing pitch and timbre capable of variation in tone and effect, instead of the harsh sound heretofore produced with a view solely to giving an alarm.

The usual telephone call box is one inclosing an electromagnet and having an opening in the top through which the stem of a vibratory hammer projects, and also having gong posts projecting upwardly from the top on opposite sides of the hammer and adapted to support gongs. The vibration of the hammer causes it to strike the two gongs alternately, but the sound emitted is a harsh, strident, and unmusieal signal which is disagreeable and unnecessarily startling.

The present invention is directed to the production of an attachment for such a call box specially constructed so as to facilitate mounting it in position without disturbing or altering the parts of the signal box other than by the removal of the gongs, whereby pleasing musical sounds, equally effective as signals, will be substituted for the strident and unmusical sounds of the ordinary alarm. The attachment whereby this end is accomplished consists of a striker adapted to be securely mounted upon the end of the hammer of the telephone signal box without requiring anychange in the hammer or affecting its vibratory movement, a support adapted to be detaehably secured to, the gong posts of the telephone box, andsoundproducing devices preferablyin the form of vertically elongated tubes suspended from to inclose or lie on the these supports so as and opposite sides of the striker, the striker Specification of Letters Patent. 'Patented June 24, 1919.

Serial No. 236,715.

the sound-producing devices beingso constructed as to give forth musical sounds of a pitch and timbre pleasing to the ear and at the same time adequate for giving the desired signal.

In the attainment of the end sought, it is desirable to make provision for adjustment of the striker and sound-producing devices toward and from each other to permit of the minute regulation seemingly required under the particular conditions existing in almost every individual case. So also it is desirable to pad the striking surfaces of the striker or make some other provision for eliminating or reducing the metallic sound so common in telephone signal apparatus as at present constructed. Accordingly, I provide pads of yielding material or ebony wood or ivory upon the striking surfaces of the striker, and where the striking device is adjustable, I prefer to provide for the adjustment on both sides of the striker so that the padded or other striking surfaces may be moved toward and away from the sounding devices.

The sounding devices are preferably tubes of glass or a metal having a pleasing tone; also they may have different pitches to simu late chimes and may be arranged to produce a crescendo or waving effect.

I have discovered that in these arrangements, it is desirable to suspend the tubes in such manner as to allow a sustained vibration of the tubes, as by providing such a form of connection between the tubes and the support therefor that the vibrations of the tubes are not substantially suppressed or damped by the support. I

These devices may takevarious forms in accordance with my invention, as appears in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of one form of single bell attachment; Fig. 2 is an elevation of another form of single bell attachment; Fig. 3 is a modified form of support for the bell of Fig. 1; Fig. 4': is an arrangement wherein two bells are suspended from the support; Fig. 5 shows an of strikers; Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the yoke for supporting the bell; and Fig. 18 is a detail of a bell post.

In all of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the usual form of telephone signal box is shown at 1. This box has an opening in the top through which projects the hammer 2, which is adapted to be vibrated rapidly by an electromagnet located within the box. On opposite sides of the hammer are posts 3 mounted stationarily upon the top of the box and projecting upwardly therefrom. The upper ends of the posts 3 have threaded openings in them, and in the ordinary form of signal box the gongs are mounted on these posts on opposite sides of the hammer by screws entering the threaded openings in the post.

The attachment constituting the present invention consists of a striker adapted to be secured to the hammer 2 and one or more sounding devices suspended from a support fastened to the posts 3 in position for coaction with the striker. In all cases, provision for adjustment is made by so constructing either the striker or the bells as to permit of movement thereof relatively to the other. Several different forms in which the striker may be. embodied are illustrated in the drawings and in most of these provision for adjustment of the striker is made. In Figs. 7 and 8, the socket 4 has an enlarged circular opening at 5 for the passage therethrough of the ball end 2 of the striker and a continuing slot at 6 for the stem 7 thereof. The socket also has a block 8 secured in place by the screw 9 and having a threaded hole for reception of the clamping screw 10. To the end of this screw is fitted a bearing member 11 for clamping the ball end 2 rigidly in the socket, the set screw 12 preventing loosening thereof. The socket also has oppositely extending threaded projections 13 into which the strikers 14 are screwed in accurately adjusted position and then fixed by the set screws 15. The striking surface of each hammer is padded with the leather covering 16.

The same form of striker A is shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5, and in Fig. 6 the double hammer A, for the purpose hereinafter noted, has this general construction, modified in a way that will now be understood readily, to provide an upper pair of strikers as shown.

In Fig. 9, the ball end 2 is clamped between the jaws 17 and 18, the former depending from the projection 19, and the latter being carried at the end of an arm 20 pivoted to said projection at 21. The member 22 has a threaded extension 23 received within the projection 19 and has a reduced port-ion 24 passing through .an opening in the arm- 20. By screwing up the member 22, the jaw 18 is forced toward the jaw 17 31 locks the nut 30, and the push pins 32 lock the padded strikers in adjusted position.

In Fig. 11 the ball end 2 is clamped between the shaped bearing block 34 and the.

cup 35, which has an opening at 36 for entry of the ball end, and which is screwed into the bearing block and held in position by the set screw 37. The padded strikers 38 are secured in adjusted position by set screws 39. i

In Fig. 12, the ball end 2 is clamped between the two bearing blocks 40, which are screwed together and locked by the set screw 41. The padded strikers 42 are screwed directly into the bearing blocks and are locked in adjusted position by the set screws 43. e

In Fig. 13, the padded strikers 44 are not directly adjustable as heretofore, since they themselves clamp the ball end 2, but they provide a measure of adjustment by reason of the angular position to which they are set c1rcumferen-tially of the ball end. The set screws 45 hold the strikers in clamped posit1on.

In Fig. 14, also, the padded strikers 46 directly clamp the ball end 2 after being screwed together, and they are locked in that position by the set screw 47 In Fig. 15, the ball end 2 is held against a bearing in one striker 48 by a pointed projection 4.9 on the other. The two strikers are screwed together and fastened in clamped position by the set screw 50.

In Fig. 16, the ball end 2 enters through the opening at 51 of the socket 52 and is clamped therein by the screw-threaded bearing block 53. The striker 54 is held on the upwardly extending projection 55 by the binding screw 56. The ends of the striker may be padded or covered with ebony wood, ivory or cork. .The hole in the striker through which the threaded proj cction 55 extends is enlarged, so that the hammer may be adjusted forward and back, and from side to side, as well as angularly relatively to the bell or bells.

These and various other forms of strikers may be used with various kinds of bells which may, if desired, be mounted without capability for adjustment toward and away from the strikers. I have found that for the production of a musical sound, deviod of offensive harshness, the bell or bells should be elongated and should preferably be made of bell metal or glass, and also should be suspended from their support, in Such. manner as to permit of sustained vibration, that is, without substantial suppression or damping.

Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive illustrate constructions which may be employed in supporting the sound-producing devices in coaction with the striker, and in all of these forms it will be noted that the sound-producing devices are suspended from supports which are formed for attachment with the upper ends of the posts 3. In Fig. 1, a single bell 57 sur rounding the striker A is suspended from the cross-bar 58. That bar is secured to the elongated rods 59 by the clamping screws 60 in any selected position of vertical adjustment. The rods 59 are provided with threaded lower ends adapted to be received in the threaded openings in the upper ends of the stationary posts 3. If desired, collars 79 of attractive appearance may be provided to fit over the posts 3 and continue the design of the supports 59 down to the top of the box 1. The bell 57 is suspended from the support 58 by means of a yoke 80, which, as

shown best in Fig. 17, has seats 81 for the laterally extending posts 82, and pivoted latches 83 arranged to rigidly hold the posts to their seats. Felt washers 84 are placed around the posts 82 between the yoke and bell, and rubber coverings 85 surround the posts to prevent any substantial suppression or damping by the support of the vibration of the bell. The yoke is fastened to the bar 58 by means of a screw-threaded rod 86 and the nuts 87, as shown. By adjusting the striker A to strike the bell with suitable impact and freedom, and also by adjusting the vertical position of the bell 57 so that the bell is struck at a suitable portion of its length, a pleasing tone of sustained character, capable of variation at will, and effective as a signal, may be produced in place of and in contrast to the usual harsh alarm.

In place of the two posts 59, a single one may suflice by using the clamping support shown in Fig. 3. This provides not only for the vertical adjustment of the bell, but also for the lateral adjustment of the yoke along the slot 61.

In Fig. 2, a single bell 62 has trunnions 63 supported by cross-bars 64 on the two sides. The cross-bars are clamped by the screws 65 in vertically-adjusted position to the elongated standards 66. The striker in this case comprises an attachment clamped to the ball end 2 of the electromagnetic vibrator, and two padded balls 67 carried at the ends of two light flat springs secured in any suitable manner to the attachment- Upon vibration of the striker by the electromagnet, the bell 62 is struck first by one hammer 67 and then the other, the bell swinging on its trunnions to produce a waving sound of pleasing effect.

In Fig. 4, the twobells 68 are suspended on opposite sides at the striker A from a frame support 69 terminating in caps 70 adapted to set over the gong posts 3 and to be fastened thereto by screws 71.

In Fig. 5, the bells 72 and 73 are of different length to give the effect of chimes, and are suspended from a frame 69 more elongated than that in Fig. 4: but otherwise like it.

In Fig. 6, telescoped bells 74 and 75 are suspended from the frame 69, and the striker A is arranged to simultaneously strike both bells of a pair to produce a chime effect. A double yoke 76 with arms at 90, but otherwise like that of Fig. 17, connects the telescoped bells to the frame, the posts 77 of the inner bell projecting through the holes 78 of the other bell.

In the drawings, various constructions are illustrated in which the parts constituting the attachment of the present invention may be embodied, and it will be understood that other constructions different from those illustrated may be employed if desired. In all cases, however, it will be noted that the attachment consists of a striker adapted to be attached to the ball hammer of the telephone signal box withoutrequiring any change or substitution therein, and a bell or bells cooperating with the striker and suspended in position from a support arranged to be secured to the stationary threaded posts of the telephone box; one or the other, or both, of the two cooperating parts being preferably so mounted as to permit of an adjustment to vary the striking effect of the striker upon the sounding devices to regulate the sound produced as may be found desirable.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An attachment for a telephone signal box, comprising a striker and means for securing it to the usual hammer of the box, an elongated chime bell, a support adapted to extend over at least one of the usual gong posts of the box, and means for suspending the chime bell from the support; substantially as described.

2. An attachment for a telephone signal box, comprising a striker and means for securing it in the usual hammer of the box, an elongated chime bell, a support adapted to extend over at least one of the usual gong posts of the box, means for suspending the chime bell from the support, and means for effecting a relative adjustment between the striker and chime bell toward or from each other; substantially as described.

3. An attachment for a telephone-signal box, comprising a support adapted to be fastened to at least one of the usual gong posts of the box, a sounding device carried by the support, a striker, and means for securing the striker. to the usual hammer of the box, the sounding device and striker forming a pair of coiiperati've elements one of which is provided with means for adjusting it in minute increments toward and away from the other element; substantially as described.

4. An attachment for a telephone signal box, comprising a support adapted to be fastened to at least one of the usual gong posts of the box, a sounding device carried by the support, a striker, means for securing the striker to the usual hammer of the box, and means for adjusting the striking surface of the striker in minute increments toward and away from the sounding device; substantially as described.

5. An attachment for a telephone signal box, comprising a support adapted to be fastened to at least one of the usual gong posts of the box, a pair of chime bells of different lengths suspended from the support, and a striker adapted to be secured to the usual hammer of the box and having a striking surface individual to each chime bell; substantially as described.

6. The combination with a bell alarm having a hammer and a gong post, of an attachment comprising a support fastened to the gong post, a plurality of sounding devices suspended from the support, and a striker having means for clamping it to said hammer and having oppositelydirected striking surfaces adjustablv mounted for independent movement in minute increments toward and away from the respective sounding devices; substanti. lly as described.

7. The combination with a bell alarm having a hammer and a gong post, of an attachment comprising a support fastened to the gong post, a sounding device having laterally extending posts, a yoke fastened to the support and to said lateral posts to secure the sounding device in position, and a striker fastened to the hammer; substantially as described.

8. The combination with a bell alarm having a hammer and a gong post, of an attachment comprising a support fastened to the gong post, a sounding device having laterally extending posts, a yoke fastened to the support and having seats for the lateral posts and pivoted latches rigidly holding said lateral posts to the seats to thereby fasten the sounding device in place, and a striker fastened to the hammer; substantially as described.

9. An attachment for a telephone signal box, comprising a support adapted to be fastened to at least one of the usual gong posts of the box, a sounding device suspended from said support, and an impact device secured to the usual hammer of the box to strike said sounding device, the sounding device and the impact device being inounted'for' adjustment independently of and relatively to each other to vary the tone emitted by the former when struck by the latter; substantially as described.

10. An attachment for a telephone signal box, comprising a vertical support adapted to be fastened directly to at least one of the usual gong posts of the box, an elongated bell suspended from the upper portion of said support, and a striker adapted to be secured to the usual hammer of the box to hit against said sounding device, said bell being adjustable in the direction of its axis toward and from said striker to vary the tone emitted when struck thereby; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES MANNING VAN HEUSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

